About Me

When?
Started: 1993
Who?
Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester.
Organiser: Martyn Harris
We walk every Thursday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day.
How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day.
More walk on a Thursday than on a Saturday.
Most ever: 29. Numbers walking: 2-12, and usually about 8 mid-week and 3-4 on Saturday.
Where do we walk?
Saturday:
Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland.
Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester.
Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles. Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!).
Those involved in 2017:-
Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Annie Hammond, Sue and Dave Pearson, Mike Dodd, David and Anne Savage, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger and Margaret Smith, Tim and Carol Dwyer, Paul Collinson, Phil Marsland, Sylvia and Dave Jenkins, Sheila McNee, Ed Meads, Elaine and John Greenhalgh.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountains". This is another chance to explore the area around Ysceifiog using field paths, woodland paths and bridleways. The walk also explores the countryside between the Wheeler Valley and Lixwm. We have done this walk many times, but not for quite a while.

Saturday 5th December 2015.Postponed.

Rhos-on-Sea, Bryn Euryn and Coed Pwllcrochan.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Start: Roadside parking on Marine Drive in Rhos-on-Sea, near to St., Trillo's Church. Grid ref: SH841811. It may may be better to park in Trillo Avenue, opposite the church.
Leave Chester at 08-30.
This walk combines three walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llandudno and Prestatyn".
One is described as a varied walk exploring the hinterland behind Rhos-on-Sea and includes the hillfort in Bryn Euryn Nature Reserve. The other walk offers panoramic views as it meanders through the undulating countryside bordering on Mochdre, Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea. I rather suspect that suitable shortcuts will be made to ensure that the distance will be nearer 10.

Thursday 10th December 2015.

St. Dyfnog's Well, Llwyn Wood, Denbigh Castle and Goblin Fields.Postponed - this route is notorious for flooding and mud, so I've decided to change the walk. See below for details.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 900'.
Start: Riverside parking near the weir in Brookhouse. Turn westward opposite the Brookhouse Inn, signposted "Pottery". Grid ref: SJ06896567.
These two walks are taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd". The main walk explore the attractive and varied countryside between Llanrhaeadr and Brookhouse. The highlight on the walk is the Jesse window in the medieval church at Llanrhaeadre. The second walk takes us on a "green" approach to Denbigh Castle.

Thursday 10th December 2015.New Walk.Holywell, and the Mostyn to Greenfield Coastal Path Round.

Distance: 10.0 miles Climb: 1000'.
Start: Holywell Halkyn Street Car Park. Grid ref: SJ18957548.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Although the route is largely based on one we did in June this year, it has been adapted to avoid problems encountered then as well as to try and minimise boggy and muddy fields that we have to negotiate. Consequently this is a somewhat contrived route in that it is uses mainly country lanes from Holywell towards Whitford and down to Mostyn. The route along the Coastal path to Grenfield is quite pleasant, but being on the estuary it can feel a little breezy at times. Some field paths are included, particularly at the start of the walk, so we can expect to encounter a few mud challenges on this section. Once we get to Mertyn Lane it should be plain sailing!
On the 11th of June we had lunch in the grounds of the Aberkan where we were able to use picnic tables and take advantage of the facilities.
However should we feel adventurous on the day, there are many that could be used instead of the security of having a hard surface under our feet.

Saturday 12th December 2015.

Caer Drewyn, Pen-y-Pigyn and onto Cynwyd.Postponed.

Distance: 9 miles; Climb:1000'.

Start: Corwen centre car park next to the Public Convenience. Grid Ref: SJ080435.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley" with a there and back extension to Cynwyd. The visit of Caer Drewyn is described as enchanting and the second walk as being a delightful walk through the wooded hillside above Corwen and concludes with lovely walk alongside the River Dee.

This is a walk devised by Steve at the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn. It covers much of our regular walk that we do called "Halkyn Mountain, Limestone and Lead". However this route takes us in a clock-wise direction and around Moel-y-Gaer before heading to Rhes-y-cae. It also takes us around the North of the Pen-y-Henblas quarry - we usually only see the quarry from its Southern side. We might see if we can enter the quarry on the North side and emerge on the East side for a change.

This walk is one we do several times each year, particularly if we want to avoid muddy conditions. The exact route wil be decided as we are going round. It will probably involve going around the Great Orme on the panoramic road, have lunch in the Happy Valley before taking the path across the limestone pavement and then taking the steps down to the invalids terrace and back to the shore.

Thursday 24th December 2015.

No walk unless anyone wants to escape from Christmas Preparations!

Contact me if you fancy a walk.

Saturday 26th December 2015.

No walk.Friday 1st January 2016.

A West Kirby Round.

Distance: 5-6 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: The Parade, West Kirby. Park near the old baths / opposite the IRB station. Grid ref: SJ213860.

Leave Chester at 09-30.

The walk starts by going around the Marine Lake, if the tide permits. High tide is at 15-21. It is quite a small tide, 7.7 m /25.0', so there should be no problem around the Marine Lake or walking along the beach to Red Rocks. Red Rocks may be a suitable spot for refreshments before heading through

Hoylake Golf Course to the Gilroy Nature Reserve. Finally a short climb up Grange Hill with its

impressive War Memorial with superb views in all directions. The return is via the Beacon on

Column Road and down to West Kirby through Ashton Park.

Bring binocular with you if you have them.

Fruit cake will be provided, as long as I know that you are coming!

Harris Hikers Annual Meal

Thursday 4th February 2016.

This would appear to be the best date for most of the group. I'm thinking of going to the Boathouse in Parkgate but at the moment I haven't booked anything. I intend to go down on the 4th February, so if you plan to come to the meal, it would be helpful if you let me know, so that I have a rough idea of the numbers involved.

If you know of anyone that might be interested in joining us for the meal, please pass on the details.

I will try to keep everyone up to date by e-mail as much as I can as well as putting the details on the blog.

We arrived at the West shore and were ready to set off about 09-40, but never really got going until about 10-10. We were passing the West shore toll house and I happened to mention to a man having a cigarette outside that lots of new windows had been put in. Next to our surprise, Vaughan, the owner was giving us a guided tour of the whole building, giving us descriptions and explanations of much of the renovation work he had done and to his future ideas to take it even further. Passing the building on so many occasions and wondering what it was like inside and now being afforded the privilege of being invited in, made this a walk that we will always remember.

Lunch was taken in the shelter in Happy Valley, Llandudno with its benches and views towards the Llandudno pier. It has the advantage too of a very convenient PC!

The weather today could have been quite nasty, but thankfully we had very little rain, about 20 minutes after lunch when I unnecessarily put on my waterproofs! The wind at times was quite blustery, especially as we headed across the plateau on top of the Great Orme, but at least it was warm wind and it wasn't really a battle even when it was face on!

Our first surprise of the day was to see flowering Snowdrops, admittedly in someone's garden and later on Roger spotted a flowering Celandine!

The views today weren't particularly good and at time we could see that the Carneddau was receiving quite a but of rain, but thankfully it missed us out as it headed North eastish!

At the end of the walk we were thankful to have had a good walk and the best of the weather, especially as we had torrential rain all the way back to the Blue Bell at Halkyn, where as usually we had a warm welcome and a Dee seasonal cider to match!

This walk was based on Steve's Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn walk 3, but adapted to avoid most of the muddy sections!

We set off with waterproof on as there was still rain in the air, but it wasn't long before some of us were suffering from "boil in the bag syndrome" and decided that taking off our waterproofs/Winter jackets was the best option. However as the weather forecast suggested it wasn't long before we had to change our minds. However it was still warm and the rain itself wasn't too unpleasant, Despite a little grumbling re-lunch spots we carried on past the Pen-y- Pwll Quarry and ended up having lunch in a sheltered spot on the West side of the Pen-y-Henblas Quarry. We had good vies across the Dee Estuary towards Liverpool where the Anglican Cathedral could clearly be seen.

Wendy provided everyone with Jaffa Cakes as it was her "?" birthday tomorrow. This was a reminiscent flavour for many of us and at one point even large Waggon Wheels were mentioned! Thank you Wendy and enjoy your day on Friday.

After lunch we had hoped to explore the Pen-y-Henblas Quarry, but the route in at the North west end had been recently blocked off by substantial new fencing. Consequently we had to go along the road yet again. when we arrived at the original entrance, access was still available, but notices proclaimed that motorised vehicles were now banned. Has there been a serious accident that led up to all this expensive fencing been put in place since our last walk just sixth months ago?

After lunch was much better and waterproofs could be discarded and "boil in the bag syndrome" was a thing of the past!

I'm getting a little worried, on the last two walks our overall walking average has been 2-0 m.p.h., and once again I had to think of extensions in order to get back to the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn close 15-00 when the Post Office Opens!

Group: Martyn, Roger, Sue and Michel, Phil, Paul, David S., Wendy and Tim. Annie not with us today she got snarled up in traffic congestion caused by an horrendous accident on the M53/A55 that took 3 hours for her to get out of. It wasn't as suggested by someone in the group who shall remain nameless said "she must have looked out of the bedroom window, saw it was raining and went back to bed!"

We arrived at the car park to find that the car park is now Pay and Display, but at a very reasonable charge of £1 for all day parking.

We arrived at the car park with the rain still falling, but being ever the optimist and believing the weather forecasters who said it would stop by 10-00 we sat in our cars for about 20 minutes.

Just before 10-00 we put on our boots and set off, not to see another drop of rain all day. Even the blustery wind predicted on the coast didn't materialise.

We decided to use mainly quiet country lanes for most of the walk from Holywell to the coast at Mostyn with only a hundred yard section across the corner of a field heading for Mertyn Lane.

The views across the Dee Estuary to Hilbre Island and the Wirral beyond were very good and got better as the clouds moved away and we were bathed in sunshine.

This was particularly so as we arrived at the Coastal Path East of Mostyn Dock where we decided to have lunch sitting on the sea defences. Some had good views looking out across the estuary, others were happy to look the other way across the fields towards the sewage farm, thankfully not within smelling distance!

After lunch I decided it was far too warm and put my jacket in my rucksack and felt much more comfortable for the rest of the walk.

After lunch the path provided good conditions underfoot and those of us still wearing gaiters felt somewhat over dressed.

The climb up to Holywell through the Greenfield Heritage Park was gentle climb, even with tired legs.

We arrived back at the car, surprised to see that our "on the move walking average" was 2.6 m.p.h., a record in recent times! Sue suggested it might have been something to do with the fortified fruit cake provided for lunch.

Only four of us defied the weather forecasters and arrived at Ysceifiog hoping that the heavy rain would arrive after lunch. Thankfully we had very little rain and we got wetter from the "boil in the bag syndrome" than we did by any of the rain! Temperatures of over 10 Celsius, made wearing full Winter gear a little over the top!

As we had had lots of rain in the last week or so, we decided to miss out any known muddy sections and use quiet lanes instead. We didn't always succeed and one section was very muddy with lots of fairly deep lying water, but only Roger manged to experience the delights of a "welly full"!

Views weren't at their best today, but after lunch we did see Moel Famau in the distance, whereas in the morning only Moel y Parc could be seen.

We only encountered a few friendly dog walkers, one of which warned us about the two donkeys grazing in the field behind the wall we were sitting on at lunch. They did come across, trying to get us to give them food and didn't seem very happy that all they got was a stroke!

Our first real rain started just as we entered Nannerch, but it didn't last for long (about 20 minutes or so).

We arrived back at the car, happy to have had a good walk, even if it had largely been along country lanes. At least it got us out of the house for a few hours and at the end it wasn't raining and our boots were relatively clean!

We arrived at the car park to find it full, a walking group from Mid-Cheshire were also starting from the quarry car park. We managed to squeeze in, they set off in one direction and we thankfully went in the opposite direction.

We set off in what wasn't really rain, more like dampness in the air, but it didn't clear by 10-00 as we had expected. We were a little later setting off and a little problem trying to find a way to cross a wall on our way towards Bryn Alyn, so to make up time we decided to take the shortest route we could to Llanarmon-yn-Ial where we planned to have lunch in the church grounds.

Our first evidence that this area must have had lots of rain recently as we crossed the little stone footbridge over a stream that was runnibg like a torrent, almost demanding for "Poo sticks" to be played. Time did manage to release a trapped branch which soon passed under the bridge and rapidly disappeared out of sight, perhaps only to be heard later, but we will never know!

We had slightly longer for lunch as I got talking to the local church treasurer who informed me that they were in the process of trying to raise £63,000 to renovate the roof of the church (a Grade 1 listed building), and they had to wait for me to have my lunch!

The after lunch the clouds lifted and it became very pleasant for walking, but little did we know of the challenges that lay ahead.

The best views of the day came as we walked along Offa's Dyke path on the West side of Moel Gyw. This is a delightful section with superb views down into the Vale of Clwyd.

Our next challenge came as we entered a small forest, storms had brought down many trees, but thanks to Phil and David's map reading skills managed to get us through all of the fallen trees to the stile and path leading to Cwm (they did get a little help from yellow spots marking some of the trees).

Unusual for Annie she managed to slip on a grassy slope, but was thankful to be wearing over trousers so the mud only went on them. Later on Phil too managed to slip over and managed to end up muddier than he would like. Thankfully there were no more mishaps, although one or two did almost fall over as they tried to negotiate a deeply flooded path just before a footbridge and ford (not usable today) over the Afon Alun , hundred yards or so South west of the quarry car park.

We arrived back at the cars, all feeling we had had a good walk and perhaps it should be repeated in the Summer months, when conditions underfoot would be a little drier!

Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, House sparrow, Wood nuthatch, Raven, Carrion crow, Song thrush, Rook and Fieldfare.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Taly-bont Farm Inn just outside Mold. Hobgoblin and Oxford Gold were the brews sampled.

Monday, 23 November 2015

Distance:10.4 miles; Climb:1600'.
Start:Car Park at the Eastern edge of Dyserth on the A5151. The car park is on the right just after a factory, and as the road climbs into Dyserth. If you get to the traffic lights/crossroads, you have gone too far. Grid ref:SJ062792.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
It's over a year since we last did these two walks together. Both walks are taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the Clwydain Hills - New revised edition". He describes the first walk as delightful and the second one as providing a fascinating exploration of the low hills North of Dyserth.

Saturday 7th November 2015.

No walk.

Thursday 12th November 2015.

Gloddaeth Hall and Bryn Pydew.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Marl Hall Wood Car Park on the outskirts of Llandudno. Grid ref: SH 799787.
Directions to get to the car park. Leave the A55 at Junction 19 and follow the A470 towards Llandudno. At a roundabout turn right signposted to Esgryn / Pydew. Go past Esgryn Road to find a small car park on the right.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llandudno". These walks explore the area around St. David's College that we normally visit on our Little Orme walks. In addition, we will take a short there and back extension to visit the obelisk that we see clearly as we travel along the A55.

Saturday 14th November 2015.

Around Moel Plas-yw.In search of lost property!

Distance: 9.3 miles; Climb:1250'.
Start: Car park area West of Cilcain. Grid ref: SJ170652.
To get to the car park take A541Mold - Denbigh Road. After Hendre take the road signposted Cilcain. In the centre of Cilcain, at a crossroads turn right (West) and continue West past the church. After about 400 yards take the minor road left. The parking area is about 300 yards along this road, on the right after a few houses. In all about 700 yards from the crossroads in Cilcain.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
Another two walks from Dave Berry's book ""More Walks on the Clwydian Hills". The Moel Plas-yw walk impressed us last time with its excellent views and delightful woodland valley paths. A visit to the summit of Moel Arthur could be an extension at the end of the walk for some! It is more likely that we will take a few short cuts to reduce the overall mileage a little and climb too!
We last did this walk on 3rd September 2015, but it will only be a repeat for me! The walk originally planned for today was around Llyn Brenig, and we did that last month, so I thought I would use this as an opportunity to se if my flask was still where I left it. If it is, I'm not expecting the soup to still be hot! It's a good job a bought myself a new flask.

Thursday 19th November 2015.

Sandbach and More.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 500'.
Start: Car park on Alsager Road, Hasall Green. Grid ref: SJ77555825.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Although the described walk starts in the centre of Sandbach, this is a figure of eight walk around the village of Hassall Green.
The main part of the walk is taken from the Patherfinder Guide to Cheshire. Whilst part of the walk includes the centre of Sandbach, most of the walk visits more secluded areas just outside the town. It is described as including peaceful sections, including two secluded valleys and a section of the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The extension takes us East along th Trent and Mersey Canal as far as Thurlwood, before heading for Lawton Heath End and returning to the car park along the Salt Line.
This is a new walk for the Thursday group. As it is only 45 minutes from Chester to Sandbach, I thought it would be within distance for a Thursday.

Saturday 21st November 2015.

Clywedog Reservoir and More.

Distance: 9+ miles; Climb:1700' at a guess.

Start: Roadside parking in Cyffyliog. Grid ref:SJ060579.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book Walks in the Hidden Heart of North Wales". It is one that we have done several times before. The exact length will depend on the route we choose to take on the return route from the reservoir.

This walk uses two walks taken from Carl Roger's book "Walking in the Clwydian Hills". We have completed both walks before, but have never tried to link them together before. The Eryrys walk is described as exploring the lesser-known limestone hills separated from the main Clwydian ridge by the Alyn Valley. Views throughout the walk are superb! The second walk involves the ascent of Moel Gyw which also has superb views of the Clwydian Hills to both the north and the south.
We last did this walk in January 2009.

This walk is taken from Lorna Jenner's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd". I have only done this walk once before starting from this car park and that was more than 10 years ago. It is described as being a varied walk through forest, quiet lanes, including one that was used on a pilgrims' route and an attractive riverside path.

Part of the route, particularly sections of the riverside path have in the past been rather boggy (Remembered from it being on walks starting from Melin-y-Wig). The section through the forest can be boggy too. The only other thing I remember about this walk is that the final section involves climbing out of the valley upto the car park - not the most ideal way to end a walk.

We arrived in Cyffylliog with the sun shining, but it still felt on the cool side, but at least we couldn't feel the strong winds forecast. After passing the church, we were soon on a delighful path following the Afon Clywedog, but as soon as we had said it we we confronted by the path being blocked by a very large tree. We just about got over it, but decide that we would use an alternatve route on the way back, even if we would have to walk a little further.

After leaving the Afon Clywedog, we started to follow a path on the East side of the Afon Concwest. This was a little overgrown in places and was blocked by even more fallen trees. After crossing the stile in the photo, we managed to weave our way between and below the branches of the fallen tree. This just confirmed our determination not to use the riverside paths on our return route.

After escaping from the Afon Concwest we had the long steep climb up the road Boced farm. After passing the farm we had superb views over the Clywedog Valley towards the Clwydian Hills.

Lunch was taken on the forest track South of Bryn Ocyn. we were well sheltered from the any Northerly wind. This was a pleasant spot overlooking the Clywedog Valley.

We decided to shorten the walk slightly and decided not to go as far as the reservoir, and instead took a forest track that led to the Clwydian Way that would take us back to the road at Boced Farm.

After passing the Concwest valley path we had steep climb up the road to the Cyffylliog road that we had decided to take. Unfortunately after climbing the steepest part and taking a few hundred yards along the Cyffylliog road, I realised that one of my gloves was missing. We turned back and you can guess it, I found the glove at the bottom of the steep hill. Having found the glove climbing up again seemed like a breeze, but it did make the walk a little longer than our legs would have liked.

We even managed to flag down a farmer and tell him that one of the sheep in the adjacent field was caught by a wire in the fence. He seemed quite pleased, although I'm not certain it was one of his sheep!

As we descended the road into Cyffylliog we could see rain coming, and alas as we got back to the car and started to change it became quite heavy.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird (lots), House sparrow, Blue tit, Common pheasant, Carrion crow, Raven, Common kestrel and Common buzzard.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Cholomendy Arms at Cadole, where the Tirril Brewery's Brewsher Bitter was superb - a good drink to revive tired legs.

We were even home early enough to watch Liverpool thrash Manchester City!

Overall a good day walking on a crisp and clear Autumn day, and we only ended up changing in the rain because I managed to drop my glove and insisted on turning back to retrieve it!